The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1887-04-02
ARTIST AND HUMoRIsT.
Clever Practical ,k-s Piayed by the
Sculptor Hiram Powers

James ii. Beard. the artist. tells some
anecdotes of the early career of Hiram
Powers. the sculptor. which go to show
that be was iull of grim humor. When
Powers went to Cincinnati he was en-
gagged in making wax figures for q
museum owned by man named Dor
field. The figures which be nodded
were delicated and beautiful beyond
anything that was known at that time.
His ingenuity in mechanics was re-
markable. and Mr. Beard thinks that
be would have made as great n success
in mechanic arts as he did in sculpture
ii he had devoted his attention to the
former. There was a popular comic
singer in Powers day at Cincinnati
named Alexander Drake. Towers mold
ed wax head of Drake. and fashioned
n figure To match the head. One of
brakes songs which was in great de-
mand with audiences was called Love
and Sausages." Powers took his wax
figure to the theater and placed il on
the stage in brakes favorite attitude.
and when the curtain rose for brakes
song there stood before the audience
two Alexander brakes. both perfectly
natural. The people were astounded;
They gazed and gazed in wonderment
until the curtain went down and rose
again on a single Drake. 1t was the
wax figure. but so like the singer that
the audience cried, and shouted. and
stamped for 'Love and Sausages." The
figure was silent and the curtain went
down without any response being made
TO their calls. 1t rose again. and there
was single Erake confronting them.
This time the audience remained un-
demonsrrativc. not knowing what to ex-
pect Ii was the true Drake. and when
he proceeded to sing Love and Saus-
ages" the mystery was intensified. For
about three days the people talked of
this double Alexander Drake, and then
the secret got out that it was one of
Powers freaks.
At another time Powers was at work
on wax bust of Thomas Jefferson.
There was a critic in Cincinnati in
those DAYS named Simms, who had in
CURED the displeasure of Powers and
others. He was told one evening that
the bust was completed. and was asked
to inspect il. 1t was in the DAYS when
the only light was from tallow candles,
and as the room was dark he was given
candle with which 10 make a close in
spection of the bust. He began to COM
ment upon its unnatural appearance,
declaring that the color of the flesh was
not natural and so on. As he leaned
down for closer inspection the burning
candle was brought close to the figure,
which suddenly lodged back. winked
its eye, and shouted: Don't burn me-"
1t was Powers himself.
A favorite trick of the artist, which
he often performed in the museum and
in public places. was made possible by
the long cloaks which it was the custom
to wear in those days. ANY one who
has seen the figures in circus which
are short and squat one moment and
apparently ten feet high the-next will
understand the nature of the joke.
Powers would gather his cloak up IN his
hands and make himself apparently
about three feet in height and as he
passed around the museum he would
gradually become taller and taller until
at last, taking the collar of his cloak
and the rim of his hat in his hands, he
would shove them far above his head
and make himself appear very tall. All
the time he would go peering around at
the sights while most of the people were
Watching him, as the biggest curiosity
of all.-N T. Tribune